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Friday, March 9, 2012

The influenza virus has been steadily increasing in Kansas, spiking to its highest level this flu season.

The Center for Disease Control has identified flu activity in the state as widespread, reporting an outbreak in at least half of Kansas. Officials said while the number of influenza cases has remained lower than usual this year, the virus will continue to circulate through the spring.

“There is still time for people to get a flu vaccination to protect themselves, their families and the community,” said Robert Moser, Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary.

The KDHE identified the first laboratory-confirmed influenza cases flu season on Dec. 21. Symptoms of influenza include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, and muscle aches. Complications can include pneumonia, ear and sinus infections, and dehydration; influenza may also worsen other chronic conditions.

On average, five to 20 percent of the U.S. population contracts influenza yearly and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized with complications. Older people, pregnant women, young children, and people with certain health conditions are at high risk for serious complications. serious complications of the influenza can lead to pneumonia and even death.

I have become intrigued by a neti-pot and was surprised that many of you used them for sinus allergies and symptoms. a study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology found that neti-pot use may actually increase your risk of infection.

Stopping neti-pot use was associated with a 62% decrease in sinus infections. the authors pointed out that neti-pots do provide relief of bothersome sinus symptoms, but that chronic use may wash away some of your bodies natural defenses and increase your risk of infection.

Neti pots have been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and many people all over the internet are singing their praises. I get asked about them fairly commonly in clinic. Basically a neti pot is a form of nasal irrigation that is supposed to greatly improve sinus allergy symptoms. You take a small tea pot looking device filled with salt water and insert it into one of your nostrils. the salt water goes through your sinuses and out the other nostril. You can see a video of someone demonstrating the neti pot.

What do you think? Leave a comment or join the discussion in the forum.

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Frequent sinus infections in children are a common problem, especially for children in daycare settings. the average child can have six to ten upper respiratory tract infections a year that have symptoms including nasal discharge and blockage.

Other factors that contribute to frequent sinus infections are environmental allergies, exposure to second-hand smoke, immunodeficiency, congenital craniofacial anomalies and some inherited conditions. Children with lung problems such as asthma and cystic fibrosis often have related sinus problems.

Most viral infections will resolve without treatment. A small percentage will progress to bacterial sinusitis that will require antibiotics for treatment. Narrowing or blockage of the nasal passages or sinus openings may increase the chances that a cold will progress to bacterial sinusitis.

Often, children may need medication to help treat sinus problems. This could include nasal steroids, nasal saline, mucous-thinning medications called mucolytics, and some allergy medications such as anti-histamines.

In a small percentage of children, surgery may be necessary to relieve the blockage and open the sinuses or nasal passages. Prior to any surgery, a thorough work-up is necessary in order to determine the appropriate treatment course. Younger children do not typically need surgery on the sinuses as their sinuses are still developing.

Younger children with frequent sinus infections often have their adenoid, a patch of tissue located where the nose and throat join, removed. the adenoid can be a haven for bacteria and can often block the nasal passages. Removing the adenoid is a simple and painless surgery that can be very effective.

When the sinus problem is more involved than an enlarged adenoid, the sinuses need to be imaged via a special X-ray called a CT scan to investigate the anatomy of the sinuses and determine if the openings of the sinuses are blocked. If sinus openings are blocked, they can be enlarged using special instruments and a small camera called an endoscope. This is called endoscopic sinus surgery. the natural openings are widened and preservation of normal anatomy is the goal.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Rhinology Clinic is unique in that it offers allergy testing and endoscopic evaluation during the same visit. This allows both the allergist and otolaryngologist to determine an appropriate treatment plan.

You should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider prior to starting or stopping any treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Been feeling weird since Friday. Could not go to the doc today. Wanna call him and ask him about my symptoms tommorow. since Friday night my left side of my face has felt kinda"tight" and "pulling", and it comes and goes. The nostril on that side of my face kinda hurts and seem infected. I have no other symptoms and do not have a cold or mucus. Can this be from my sinuses in my face? I have heard sometimes sinus problems in the facial area can cause numb/tingly/tight/pulling etc. anyone know?

I get sinus infections frequently and I notice my cheeks get red when I have an infection. I don't notice a tightness but everyone responds differently. I suggest you use a saline rinse and wash your sinuses out. If you see green–then you have an infection. It is also possible you have an allergy–similar problem. If it is clear and watery–it is allergy not sinus infection.

i don,t know exactly what your own symptoms are caused from,but if it is a sinus related problem then make sure you are not given any form of anti-biotics at all!! which is what most "drs" will want to give you. the mayo clinic and all dr desk referance books they have available to them,easily/readily,will verify that 98% of all sinus problems is caused by a fungus not a bacteria,as is what an anti-biotic will attack,along with all your other good/friendly own bacteria,that is a big part of your own immune sys.anti-bios only help in a bacterial problem,not a viral or fungal infection.the major health problem today in the usa,over use of anti-bios,causing mutated fungal and virals that can and will eventually destroy the host,that being the human body…

We thought my sister had a cold. she took cold medicine today, and it didn't alleviate any of her symptoms, so we believe it began as a sinus infection instead of manifested into one from a cold. Is this possible? Should the cold medicine helped at least some of her sinus pressure, headache and nasal drainage/congestion?

Cold medicine can help the congestion but definitely not the head pressure.. all sinus infections are a cold gone worse but it could of been minor and she's not feeling sick until now. Best way to relieve her is take her to the doc so she can get put on antibiotics!

if it is a viral sinus infection then it should go away on its own, however, it could be bacterial so go to the doctor and get it checked out because you don't want this to get worse.

These self-help steps can help relieve sinusitis symptoms:
* Get plenty of rest.
* Drink plenty of fluids.
* Steam your sinus cavities.
* Apply warm compresses to your face.
* Rinse out your nasal passages.
* Sleep with your head elevated.
If you have got chronic sinusitis, consult an ENT Specialist.